PM calls for support for new academic year

Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh has called on everyone involved to work together to ensure the success of the academic year 2021-2022, which began on Monday.
The premier called for cooperation in his message to mark the start of the new academic year amid the escalating Covid-19 outbreak, which has meant that classes in many areas are unable to open as the new academic year begins.
The government has postponed the start of classes at schools in all areas where locally-transmitted Covid cases have been reported.
Vientiane authorities recently ordered the closure of all schools, with entrance exams to tertiary education institutions suspended after numerous cases of Covid were reported in the capital.

The suspension will remain in place until the virus outbreak is brought under control, meaning that students will not attend classes in schools but will have their lessons online.
In this situation, the Ministry of Education and Sports on Monday held an event online to officially start the new academic year.
Classes will begin as usual at schools in provinces that have not recorded any locally-transmitted Covid cases for the past 14 days.
The prime minister told education administrators and teachers to make use of information and telecommunication technology and explore appropriate teaching and learning channels that best suit the conditions of the virus outbreak.
In addition, he asked parents and guardians to ensure that all school-aged children enroll in schools.
PM Phankham stressed the need for parents to support their children and encourage them to be attentive and study at home, so that they keep up with their schoolwork and do not fall behind during the constrained circumstances imposed during this challenging time.
The prime minister noted that the education sector had overcome the difficulties faced last academic year when the Covid outbreak meant that schools had to close periodically and studies were disrupted. Despite this difficult period, enrolment in preschool education increased, while the number of primary school students dropping classes declined.
The number of children completing primary school increased, as did the number of young people taking vocational training courses. PM Phankham thanked education administrators, teachers and development partners for their contributions and support in making these achievements possible.

By Times Reporters
  (Latest Update September 7, 2021)